section 14
usury forbidden ö means of achieving success
not to be usurer ö to be in awe of allah ö to be in awe of hell ö
to spend in the cause of religion ö mutual forbearance to seek the divine protection ö
the loss inflicted upon the enemy ö misfortune at uhud.

130. " o' you who have faith! do not devour usury, doubling it over and over
again, and be in awe of allah; that you may be prosperous."

commentary:
 this verse, together with its eight subsequent verses, have been
located among the verses about the battle of 'uh¤ud. this arrangement,
perhaps, is for the sake that the existence of ethical and economical themes
are helpful in a defensive system. the society whose members are the
people of sincerity and devotion, who hasten to do good, to repent, and are
obedient to the godly leader, will be successful in war, too. but, the society
whose members are mammonish, miser, disobedient, and persist in
committing sin, surely will be defeated.

however, the verses on the prohibition of usury have been revealed
gradually and in several stages. the first step of the prohibition of usury
was a critical attack against the usury of the jews.

this verse is for the prohibition of the usury doubling it over and
over again, but, later, islam gradually prohibited devouring even a penny of
usury and introduced it as a fighting against allah.

explanations:
1. before the prohibition of the principal of usury, its ugly
outstanding forms were prohibited.

"... doubling it over and over again, ..."

2. in the economical affairs, observing piety is intensively necessary.
in other words, the existence of a safe and sound economy is the sign of
piety therein.

"... do not devour usury,... and be in awe of allah: ..."

3. prosperity cannot be obtained by wealth and usury, but it can be
obtained by piety.

"... and be in awe of allah: that you may be prosperous. "

4. usurer is impious and an impious person does not become
prosperous. a usurer is prosperous neither in this world, nor in the
hereafter. in this world he is involved with grudge and rancour of others,
and in the coming world he will encounter the wrath of allah.